Metallic cross-tie.



F. R. ."SLOGKETT. METALLIC (moss TIE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 1908.

Patented May 25, 1909.

' out departing NV orrion ,rnnn a. rsiiooirirm, or roar COLLINS, coLonanof METALLIC CROSS-TIE.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, FRED R. SLooKnTT, a I

citizen of theUnited States, residing at Fort Collins, in the countyof Larimer and State of Colorado, have-invented a new and useful Metallic Cross-Tiaof which the following is a specification.- I

The invention relates to improvements in metallic cross ties. Q v

The object'ofthe present invention is to improve the construction of metallic cross ties, and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive one of great strength and durability, adapted to be easily and cheaply manufactured, and capable of advantageous use on all portions of a railroad track.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a metallic cross tie of this character equipped with rail-engaging means, capable of securely holding the rails and. of effectually preventing the same fro'n'ispreading at cu'rvesand other places and dispensing with the use ofrail chairs, tiebars and the like.

-With these and other obj ectsin view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combinat'ionjof parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minoridetails of construction, within the scope of the claims, may beresorted to withfromthe spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing :-Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a track provided with cross ties, constructed in accordance with this invention, a portion oflthe rails being in section to illustrate the 7 construction more clearly; Fig. '2 is a sectional view, taken substantially 011 the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view, taken substantially on the line 33 Fig. 1. Fig, 4 is an end elevation, illustrating the arrangement of the clam s and the fasteningmeans. Fig. 5 is a detai perspective viewof one of the clamps.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective View, showing another formof the rail clamp. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail sectional views, showing the modified form of clamp applied to a cross tie.

Likenumerals of reference designate corresponding parts in alltheflgures of the draw- The metallic cross tie '1, which may be constructed of any suitable'metal, such as steel or iron. and which may be manufactured by I Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 18, 1908. Serial No. 444,198.

Patented May 25, 1909.

any well known method, is approximately U-sh aped in cross section being composed of vertical sides 2 and a horizontal connecting bottom portion 3. The horizontal bottom extends entirely across the cross tie, and the tie is angular at the corners formed by the sides and the horizontal bottom. The upper edges of the sides 2 receive and support the rails 3*, which are securedto the cross tie by means of the clamps 4.

The rail holding clamps, which are con structed of steel or other suitable material, arefitted against the sides of the cross tie and are composed of upper engaging portions or jaws and lower approximately horizontal portions 5, extending across the lower faces of the bottom flanges of the rails and secured to the sides of the cross tie by bolts 6. The jaws or engaging portions of the clamps are reversely arranged to engage the bottom flanges of the rails at the inner and outer sides thereof, and if necessary or desirable, each cross tie may be equipped at each end with either two, three or four clamps. Ordinarily two clamps, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, will be suflicient, but at portions of the track, where the rails are subjected to increased strain, additional clamps may be used. Whenthe number of clamps is increased, the additional clamps are fitted against the inner faces of the sides of the cross tie, and the bolts 6, which are preferably short, may extend entirely across the cross tie. When short bolts are employed, they pierce the clamps and the sides of the cross tie at points beyond the bottom flanges of the rails, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, and the nuts are preferably located at the inner faces of the sides of the cross tie. The heads of the bolts or screws maybe provided with grooves, or polygonal heads may be employed for enabling the bolts or screws to be gripped with a wrench, or other tool, while the nuts are being turned. i

In Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive of the drawing, is illustrated a modification of the invention in which the clamp 8 extends entirely across the space between the sides ofthe cross tie and fits upon and is supported by the horizontal bottom thereof. The clamp 8 is composed of an. upper engaging portion or jaw and a lower horizontal portion extending entirely across the lower face of the rail. The clamp 8 is secured to the cross tie by means of bolts 9, piercing the clamp and the sides of the cross tie and having a head at one end and a nut at the other. Instead, however, of arranging the bolt 9 horizontally, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, they may be passed vertically through the clamps and the bottom of the cross tie. This arrangement is especially desirable on bridge work and analogous constructions. At points where the rail joints occur the engaging portions of the clamps are correspondingly shortened, and conform to the configuration of the fish plates where angle fish plates are used.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with rails, of a metallic cross tie composed of a horizontal bottom portion and vertical sides supporting the rails, rail-engaging clamps arranged exteriorly of the cross tie and including spaced portions or jaws and lower horizontal portions fitted against the sides of the cross tie and extending across and presenting straight edges to the lower faces of the rails, and short horizontal bolts piercing the horizontal portions of the clamps and the sides of the cross tie, the nuts of the bolts being located within the cross tie.

2. The combination with rails, of a cross tie approximately U-shaped in cross section and provided with vertical sides receiving the rails, rail-engaging clamps fitted against the outer faces of the sides of the cross tie and composed of spaced jaws extending over the bottom flanges of the rails, and lower FRED R. SLOCKETT.

Witnesses FRED W. Srow, RALPH A. NICHOLAS. 

